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A Tale of Two Lifesavers

Brooklyn is a part of me. I was born and raised in this borough and I built my family here. My son was born at The Brooklyn Hospital Center 33 years ago, the same hospital where I receive all of my cardiac care today.

I’m 67 now and like a lot of men I resisted—actually ignored—the need for regular heart check-ups for most of my adult life. I paid a price for that. One day in 2000, sitting at the kitchen table across from my fiancée, my arm began throbbing so bad I had to bang it for relief. But I was reluctant to call 911, even in the midst of what turned out to be a major heart issue.

My fiancée Jacqueline wouldn’t allow that. She forced me to call for help, which is why I call her one of my two lifesavers.

My other lifesaver was Dr. Frank Iacovone, a Brooklyn Hospital Center cardiologist who had the knowledge and thoroughness to find a 96% blockage in my main left artery that others had missed. I thank Dr. Iacovone for removing that and two other smaller blockages, and I thank him for his fantastic bedside manner. He and all of his staff members always go the extra mile for me. However long it took, they made sure I understand my condition and treatment options before leaving their offices.

It’s a relief knowing I have access to some of New York’s best cardiologists using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. A retired subway operator, I love our train system as much as anybody, but I’d much rather spend time with my six grandchildren than waste precious time travelling back and forth into Manhattan for my care. Why go anywhere we have such excellent cardiac care right here in downtown Brooklyn?